L'Arche Portland strives to create a place to call home for people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them.

Our mornings begin with preparations for the day, breakfast and often a minor squabble over the newspaper. During the morning and early afternoon 5 of our 8 core members attend vocational or alternative to employment programs, 2 are employed in the city, and our elder is active throughout town.  Assistants have free time for personal growth and connection.

 

In the afternoon, we often go for neighborhood walks, visit with friends, buy a treat, go shopping, to an appointment, or help prepare dinner. One of our core members volunteers twice a week in the greater community.

 

Each house has dinner together, and shares about their day. In the summer and early fall we are able to use items from our garden, or produce from a farmers market. Often we have a friend or guest join us. After dinner we take time for prayer. We light a candle, read a short meditation, remember others, sing a song, or simply give thanks.

 

One evening per week we have a community night where both homes come together with friends and extended community members to pray, celebrate something or honor someone; other evenings are spent enjoying each others company, listening to music, watching a movie, or reading a story aloud.   Some of us attend church on Sunday and we go out to lunch on the weekends. We also attend street fairs, concerts in the park, visit the library or something fun. Every day is an adventure and we experience the gifts  in being with one another.